Preparing Your Home for Holiday Guests in 7 Easy Steps

It's that time of the year again! The Holidays are upon us and soon enough, many of our homes will be filled with family and/or friends stopping by or staying the night. Here are Lighting Design's best tips for prepping your home for holiday guests. 

1. Declutter. Forget about Spring cleaning. Cleaning before the Holidays is a must. Not only will it help you feel prepared for guests, but it can also free up space for all the exciting new things Santa or friends may gift you. Don't be afraid to get rid of items that you no longer use or no longer bring you joy (think Marie Kondo style). Decluttering will not only help your home look better to Holiday company, but you'll feel better too!
2. Kitchen deep clean. Before your guests come and stay for the Holidays, one of the best things you can do is a kitchen deep clean. Assuming you're like most people, you'll be spending a lot of time in the kitchen cooking, cleaning, or entertaining. It's the perfect time to give your kitchen a little bit of a deeper clean than you usually do. Things to clean that you might not normally think of include the refrigerator, the pantry, or the oven. For the fridge, be sure to get rid of any old food/condiments and give it a good wipe-out. Your pantry may need re-organization or to be rid of expired food and such. And finally, let's be honest about our ovens. Most of us don't clean these very often and if you're a careful cook, there may not be a need for a deep clean as much. Before Holiday guests and cooking arrive, be sure to give the oven at least a good wipe down if not a full-on scrub. A crowd favorite cleaner that will work for all of the above tasks, is the Pink Stuff. It's meant to be a low-toxic cleaner that is tough on stains, and gentler for your home. 
3. Guest bath refresh. Chance are your Holiday guests are going to spend a bit of time using the restroom to either shower, refresh, or do other bathroom activities. Give your guest bath a little refresh before guests show up. You can do things like a fresh coat of paint, a new light, or even a total makeover. However, a guest bath refresh doesn't need to be complicated. Check to be sure that there is extra toilet paper and the bath linens are all clean. Additionally, be sure things like the sink, shower, or toilet are freshly cleaned. You can also add a nice scent via candle or air freshener to give it an even cleaner feel. Whatever you do, just be sure the bathroom is ready to take on guests this Holiday season!
4. Prepare the guest room. It seems like a no-brainer, but think of all the things you can do to make their room feel special. For example, add extra bedding or give the pillows an extra fluff. You could even add snacks to the room for guests to enjoy at their leisure. 
5. Check or swap out light fixtures. There is nothing more unpleasant than inadequate home lighting. Especially when you're in a new or unfamiliar space. Be sure to double-check that your light fixtures are all functioning and giving off enough light. This way your guests can easily see and get around your home. If need be, don't hesitate to upgrade your lighting. Swapping an outdated ceiling light fixture to say a new flush disc light, can be a night and day difference. 
6. Get out the Holiday decor. Maybe you're a "Christmas doesn't start until after Thanksgiving." person. But getting out the Holiday decor is one way to prep for Holiday guests. The season is the best time of the year after all. Why not indulge a little bit and bring Holiday cheer to your home and your guests? Check out Lighting Design's Holiday Products if you need to add more decor to your collection.
7. Make it cozy. The Holidays are the best times to be cozy. Prepare your home for holiday guests by making it inviting. Some ideas include getting the fireplace pre-lit and adding throw pillows and blankets to common spaces. You can also add scented candles for warm lighting and cozy smells. Anything you can think of to add a little extra plushness and warmth to your home is a step in the right direction.

We hope you feel ready to welcome guests into your home for the upcoming Holiday season! Let us know if any of these tips helped you out.